Bossier City in Bossier Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Boeing B-52D “Stratofortress”

USAFM 1983-63

Gary Todd via Flickr (Public Domain), July 14, 2017

1. Boeing B-52D “Stratofortress” Marker

Inscription.

Boeing B-52D “Stratofortress”. USAFM 1983-63. Since it became operational in 1955, the B-52 has been the main long-range heavy bomber of the Strategic Air Command. It first flew on Apr. 15, 1952. Nearly 750 B-52s were built when production ended in Oct. 1963, of which 170 were -Ds. The -Ds were modified to carry conventional bombs externally and the later series had provisions for Hound Dog air-to-surface missiles and Quail decoy missiles., The B-52 has set many records in its 45-plus years of service. On Jan. 18, 1957, three B-52Bs completed the world's first non-stop around-the-world flight by jet aircraft, lasting 45 hrs. and 19 min. with only three aerial refuels en route. It was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. In June 1965, B-52s entered combat when they began flying missions with conventional bombs in support of operations in Southeast Asia (SEA). By Aug. 1973, they had flown 126,615 combat sorties with 17 B-52s lost to enemy action., The aircraft on display, tail # 56-0629, is the B-52D used by Monogram Models to create the largest 1/72d scale plastic kit at that time-late '60s. It was also the first B-52D to be modified and used as the test bed bomber for the “Big Belly” modification at Boeing Wichita. Upon completion of the testing, '629 would see extensive service in SEA (over 400 combat sorties) and was severely damaged by an enemy surface-to-air missile (SAM) on December 27, 1972 during Operation “Linebacker II". After the war, the B-52D returned to the states and was assigned to the 22d Bomb Wing at March Air Force Base, CA. '629 was the last B-52D retired from March AFB. It was flown to Barksdale AFB in 1983. The aircraft is marked as it was in the late 1960s with over 200 sortie markings on the side of the nose., Specifications , Span: 185' . Length: 156' 6" . Height: 48' 4" . Weight: 450,000 lbs max . Crew: Six (6) . Armament: Four .50 cal machine guns in tail plus bombs-nuclear or 43,000 lbs conventional . Cost: $6.6 million, Performance , Max speed: 638 mph . Cruising: 526 mph . Range: 8,3338 miles unrefueled . Service ceiling: 49,400 ft . Engine: Eight Pratt and Whitney J57s of 12,100 lbs thrust each

Since it became operational in 1955, the B-52 has been the main long-range heavy bomber of the Strategic Air Command. It first flew on Apr. 15, 1952. Nearly 750 B-52s were built when production ended in Oct. 1963, of which 170 were -Ds. The -Ds were modified to carry conventional bombs externally and the later series had provisions for Hound Dog air-to-surface missiles and Quail decoy missiles.

The B-52 has set many records in its 45-plus years of service. On Jan. 18, 1957, three B-52Bs completed the world's first non-stop around-the-world flight by jet aircraft, lasting 45 hrs. and 19 min. with only three aerial refuels en route. It was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. In June 1965, B-52s entered combat when they began flying missions with conventional bombs in support of operations in Southeast Asia (SEA). By Aug. 1973, they had flown 126,615 combat sorties with 17 B-52s lost to enemy action.

The aircraft on display, tail # 56-0629, is the B-52D used by Monogram Models to create the largest 1/72d scale plastic kit at that time-late '60s. It was also the first B-52D to be modified and used as the test bed bomber for the “Big Belly” modification at Boeing Wichita. Upon completion of the testing, '629 would see extensive service in SEA (over 400 combat sorties)

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and was severely damaged by an enemy surface-to-air missile (SAM) on December 27, 1972 during Operation “Linebacker II". After the war, the B-52D returned to the states and was assigned to the 22d Bomb Wing at March Air Force Base, CA. '629 was the last B-52D retired from March AFB. It was flown to Barksdale AFB in 1983. The aircraft is marked as it was in the late 1960s with over 200 sortie markings on the side of the nose.

Specifications
Span: 185' • Length: 156' 6" • Height: 48' 4" • Weight: 450,000 lbs max • Crew: Six (6) • Armament: Four .50 cal machine guns in tail plus bombs-nuclear or 43,000 lbs conventional • Cost: $6.6 million

Performance
Max speed: 638 mph • Cruising: 526 mph • Range: 8,3338 miles unrefueled • Service ceiling: 49,400 ft • Engine: Eight Pratt and Whitney J57s of 12,100 lbs thrust each

Erected by Barksdale Global Power Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military. A significant historical date for this entry is May 21, 1956.

Location. 32° 30.91′ N, 93° 41.064′ W. Marker is in Bossier City, Louisiana, in Bossier Parish. It is on Range Road 0.4 miles north of Shreveport Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is at the Barksdale Global Power Museum on Barksdale Air Force Base, north

Boeing B-52D “Stratofortress” image. Click for full size.

Gary Todd via Flickr (Public Domain), July 14, 2017

2. Boeing B-52D “Stratofortress”

of the museum building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 88 Shreveport Rd, Bossier City LA 71112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Louisiana.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1st CEVG Combat Skyspot Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 “Fishbed” (within shouting distance of this marker); Avro B-2 “Vulcan” (within shouting distance of this marker); Boeing B-52G “Stratofortress” (within shouting distance of this marker); North American AGM-28 “Hound Dog” (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Convair B-58 “Rocket Sled” (about 300 feet away); Major General William E. Eubank, Jr. (about 400 feet away); Boeing KC-97G/L “Stratofreighter” (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bossier City.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 261 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 3, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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